<p>I think West Chester is worth a look, although I don’t believe they have engineering. But it;s the best of the PA state school system schools and has gotten more selective in recent years. Her grades and GPA sound pretty good and I would think she’d have a better experience at WCU than Widener. Plus WCU is very affordable.</p>
<p>Loyola of Maryland? New Jersey Institute of Technology? Rutgers-Camden? Rider? If you were willing to travel a little further afield, maybe West Virginia University.</p>
<p>What kind of guidance counselor would suggest Widener to a student also considering Princeton and Lehigh?
o_O</p>
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<p>Maybe one who saw the SAT scores and wanted to show her some schools that she may be able to get in confidently. Although I think there are a lot of other schools in between the Ivys and Widener to consider! :)</p>
<p>1700 is not lousy, overall , but for those thinking about Princeton, Lehigh, CMU, Penn, and engineering at PSU, Drexel, etc, it is lousy. It’s also risky going with the big 'uns for engineering as that is a weed out major. The stats say it all. Again, I am saying this, married to someone who beat the odds, but the numbers are there. If I had a DD with stats that low that wanted to be an engineer, I would look at schools that have small engineering departments that teach the material to kids that are not way up there. Manhattan College, the Maritimes, some other such schools. Bucknell is a highly regarded school with a small , focused engineering dept. I understand Smith has engineering options, but have not looked at them. I would not recommend those split programs where you go on to another school to get that degree.</p>
<p>Coast Guard Academy is a great option too.</p>
<p>As someone who lives halfway between the two schools, I’d pick West Chester over Widener in a heartbeat. Nicer neighborhood, better school, cheaper - no comparison.</p>
<p>Bucknell is very selective. As selective as Lehigh and more selective than Lafayette. </p>
<p><<<<
Had a girl in engineering. She got into schools that she might not have otherwise (not because she wasn’t qualified but because of acceptance rates) but we found that she did not get more merit aid.
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<p>I’ve seen this as well. Girls may have a better chance of being accepted (as long as stats are good), but merit doesn’t follow. </p>
<p>WPI and Loyola Maryland are both test optional and offer merit aid. You’re daughter may be a great candidate.</p>
<p>I’ve been away from the web a while (busy!) and I was so happy to see this thread still going when I logged in!
You all are so very helpful, I really appreciate it.</p>
<p>I have good news on the scores front. Kid did much better on her June SAT - in fact she aced math (800), and got 700 & 620 on reading & writing.
So yay! Thanks to the wonders of studying (and constant Mom nagging, LOL)</p>
<p>Now she has to prepare for 2 subject tests (it will be Chem & Math II) and start drafting her essay.</p>
<p>Thank you for keeping the suggestions coming!</p>
<p>1500 will do a pretty good job for you at a broad range of schools. I would recommend that you file an application at that school up US1 from Philly. </p>
<p>Hi dadx - I am geography impaired - which school did you mean?
Thanks!</p>
<p>Your lottery dream school from the original post. Plus others. No guarantees,and plenty of other factors to consider, but the scores put your daughter in the admittable category from a score perspective.</p>
<p>Gotcha! Yeah, that is her dream; maybe she’ll get lucky. Definitely a high reach for anyone.</p>
<p>Congrats to her on the big score jump!</p>
<p>With her new score and GPA she qualifies for Temple’s full tuition + stipend scholarship, if you can afford room and board (fees, books, etc) that would make a nice guaranteed safety. My D did a week long women in engineering program there last year so I’d think it fair to say that they are interested in getting and supporting female engineering students. She’d also be auto-admitted to the honors college.</p>
<p>PS: Alabama has a similar automatic full tuition+ scholarship for the same stats. Not a quick drive from Philly but less than a day’s drive. Also honors college there which I think is a shoo-in for their full tuition scholars.</p>
<p>She might be a candidate for one of Lafayette’s Marquis Scholarships. Those scores will really help her a lot everywhere.</p>
<p>If she is not adverse to an all female college, Smith has an excellent engineering program, and it does not hurt that the school meets demonstrated need. Run the NPC.</p>